Tag Archives: local farmers

Market Customers Taste Local Farm Meats

Warm sunshine with sizzling local farm meats on the grill – it was the perfect combo for the official last weekend of summer at the Franklin Farmers Market. Grill Day at the FFM this past Saturday was a delicious way to bid summer goodbye, with a variety of local meats to sample and enjoy from our local meat farmers. The expertise of Chef Michael Martin of Whole Foods made everything extra tasty. Our friends at the Hearth and Grill Shop provided the Big Green Egg and Fire Magic Gas Grill to grill the local farm meats to perfection.

FFM

Friends from Whole Foods

FFM

Over 50 pounds of grilled meats

FFM

Chef Michael

FFM

Friends from Hearth & Grill Shop

FFM

Veggies on a Fire Magic grill

FFM

Grill Day

Everyone loved the tasty samples of beef, lamb, chicken and sausage from Bear Creek Farm, Peaceful Pastures, West Wind Farm, Triple L Ranch, River Cottage Farm and Hatcher Dairy Farm. Again, it was the absolute perfect way to say goodbye to summer and hello to football tailgating season!

FFM

Grilled to perfection by Chef Michael

FFM

Grilled local beef on a Big Green Egg

FFM

Summer veggies still in market

Fall officially starts on Tuesday and there’s been a lot of people asking when the FFM will shut down for the year. The answer is we don’t – the Franklin Farmers Market is a year-round market. Our local farmers keep growing and while the variety of farm grown vegetables changes with the season, you can still enjoy the best of fresh food from local farms all throughout the winter. Plus with the cooler weather of fall, comes a whole lot of fun events and activities. Find out what’s coming up at the Franklin Farmers Market by taking a look at our Events page.

FFM

Colorful Peppers from Bloomsbury Farm

FFM

Sweet Cherry Tomatoes

FFM

Fresh Basil

All of the colorful veggies and smiling faces at the FFM each Saturday make for some great photos. You should see the ones taken during Grill Day! Visit the market’s photo gallery to see what and who we snapped photos of this past Saturday.

FFM

Pumpkin Roll from Norton Family Farm

FFM

Collard and Turnip Greens

What Makes a Successful Farmers Market?

FFM

Basket of produce from Pilgrims Produce

What local ingredients contribute for a successful farmers market? Farm Fresh Produce, the best-hardworking local farmers, bakers and artisans with a community that embraces farm fresh food. That’s exactly what happens every Saturday morning of the year in Franklin Tennessee. We are blessed to live in Tennessee where farming is still a way of life for many Tennesseans. Franklin families gather each Saturday at the Franklin Farmers Market to see, touch and smell farm fresh produce our local farmers have been growing on their local farms.

FFM

We want this watermelon!

FFM

Organically grown okra and bell peppers from Delvin Farms

On Saturday we had beautiful squash, zucchini, peas, green beans, potatoes, herbs, peppers, over 30 different varieties of tomatoes, peaches, eggs, lettuces, blueberries, eggplant, fresh baked breads, home made pasta, okra, garlic, onions, watermelons, jams, jellies, preserves, radishes, Tennessee sweet corn, fresh baked tomato pies and Tennessee’s best local farm meats of beef, chicken and pork!

FFM

Red potatoes and green beans from See Sun and May Lo Fresh Produce

FFM

Evans Produce  peppers

FFM

Purple Cherokee Tomatoes from Jones Mill Farm

FFM

Beaverdam Creek Farm just picked tomatoes

FFM

Peaches and cream corn from Conry Farm

FFM

Delvin Farms sweet, sweet watermelons

FFM

Sweet cherry tomatoes from Norton Family Farms

FFM

Fresh picked cilantro from Kirkview Farm

FFM

Hot peppers from Allenbrooke Farm

Our local artisans bring everything from fresh baked goods to farm made soaps; hand crafted artisan wood, peanut butter, lemonades with fresh peaches and watermelons mixed in, tie dye clothing, farm plants, real handmade barn wood signs, artisan jewelry, custom made corn hole boards and fresh baked Greek pastries.

FFM

Refreshing lemonade with local watermelon or peach

FFM

FFM recipe samples each market Saturday

FFM

Fresh baked tomato pie and just picked lettuce mix from Norton Family Farms

FFM

Home baked bread from Jones Mill Farm

FFM

Peas and Lima Beans

Thank you to all our customers who travel from all over Middle Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia and Kentucky to shop for farm fresh food each Saturday morning.

This coming Saturday is our Watermelon Festival sponsored again this year by Whole Foods. Our local market will be stocked full with a bumper crop of watermelons. We will have watermelons by the slice, watermelon drinks, a seed spitting contest and the fastest watermelon eating contest. Don’t miss Franklin’s Watermelon Festival this coming Saturday!

watermelon image slider

Our market website photo gallery showcases photos each week of who is at market and what our farmers, bakers and artisans bring to market each week. Come enjoy great food and music at the Franklin Farmers Market!

Farmers Market hosting local Farmers, Bakers and Artisans

FFM

Fresh picked lettuces and radishes from Colvin Family Farm

Farmers are early birds. Up early in the morning, planting early crops, working early on the farm. So it makes perfect sense that the summer season of the Franklin Farmers Market starts early too. That’s what happened this past Saturday with a market packed with farmers, bakers and artisans. There were a lot of familiar faces, but many new ones too. It was a “berry” good day, with lots of strawberries to take home and enjoy. Music was back at the market too and choice of good fresh food was practically overwhelming.  From Greek pastries to asparagus, goat cheese to tender steaks, the FFM had everything you needed for the perfect meal.

FFM

Fresh baked from Olive Tree Bakery

FFM

Market Lettuces stay fresh in your refrig much longer

FFM

Somebody loves her some Strawberries

FFM

Fresh organic asparagus from Delvin Farms

FFM

Farm fresh eggs from River Cottage Farm

FFM

Nutritious Kale from Bloomsbury Farm

FFM

Just picked Strawberries from FFM farmers

FFM

Chef Cyndi Shalhoub demonstrating her culinary skills with fresh market produce

Speaking of the perfect meal, Saturday was the chance to try out new ways with old favorite. It was our first Chef Saturday at the market and Chef Cyndi Shalhoub was on hand, showing how to prepare three different recipes with some of your favorite veggies and handing out delicious samples to try.

Chef Saturday at the FFM will take place the first Saturday of every month at the market and it’s a great way to learn new recipes for summertime veggies and fruits.

FFM

Beaverdam Creek Farm offers CSA’s along with many other FFM farms

FFM

Herb starter plants from Kirkview Farm

FFM

Kale and Strawberry salad by Chef Cyndi

It surely would not be summer if you didn’t fire up the grill. So that’s what we’re going to do this upcoming Saturday. May 10th is Grill Day at the FFM and it’s the perfect chance for you to sample great cuts of meat from farmers at the market. The ultimate grill master, Chef Jeff Lunsford of the Hearth and Grill Shop will have several grills fired up, including the dream grill of every backyard chef – the Big Green Egg. Sample beef, pork, lamb, chicken and sausage, deliciously grilled by Chef Jeff. It’s the perfect way to start summer at the FFM – yes, it’s good to be the early bird!

FFM

A happy Delvin Farm CSA pick up of organically grown veggies

FFM

Artisan soaps and creams from Beaverdam Creek Farm

FFM

Starter plants available from many local farms

FFM

Beautiful long lasting fresh picked spring flowers are now available from Sue’s Flowers each market Saturday!

Local Farmers providing Fresh Lettuce, Spinach and other Vegetables this Winter!

FFM

Fresh lettuce from the Norton Family Farm

Salads are a summer treat, right? So how can there be fresh picked lettuce and spinach at the Franklin Farmers Market on a cold winter’s day? Just ask the market’s reigning lettuce master, Jim Norton.  This past Saturday at the market, it was cold. Very cold. But the Norton Family Farm had beautiful tasty lettuce and spinach. How was that possible?

FFM

Norton Farm’s tender fresh spinach

You can find lettuce and spinach from the Norton farm practically year-round at the market because of the loose-leaf varieties of lettuce and spinach that Jim plants in succession and the use of hoop houses and row covers to protect the lettuce crops from weather and insects.  So even though we’ve had plenty of cold days this December, the Norton lettuce and spinach crop continues to thrive.

There were also plenty of winter veggies at the market this past Saturday too, such as winter squash, sweet ‘taters and Brussels sprouts.

FFM

Winter Squash

FFM

Delvin Farm’s cabbage

FFM

Winter veggies from Paradise Produce Farm

FFM

Checking out the vegetables from Pilgrim’s Produce

FFM

A wide variety of winter veggies to choose from

FFM

Freshly baked!

FFM

Soups from Lucy’s Kitchen

FFM

Lots of yummy jellies from the Norton Family Farm

FFM

Tasty Brussels sprouts at the Franklin Farmers Market

FFM

Put some green in your diet!

FFM

The market’s “Eating in Season” cookbook

Eating vegetables year round is a healthy way to stay in shape. But maybe you are not quite sure what to do with a bunch of beets or a head of cabbage. You can find an easy solution to fixing meals with winter vegetables at the market. Pick up a copy of the FFM’s cookbook, “Eating in Season”. It has recipes for each season of the year. Let’s say that you picked up a turnip at the market but were not quite sure what to do with it in the kitchen. The Eating in Season cookbook has a recipe for Baked Turnip Fries that will leave you begging for more. You can pick up a copy of the Eating in Season cookbook through the winter season at the Norton Family Farm booth. It’s just $15 (plus tax) and it can make every meal, year-round delicious.

FFM

Lots of goodies from Lucy’s Kitchen

On this Wednesday, we say goodbye to 2013 and hello to the New Year. And with the new year, come a couple of changes at the Franklin Farmers Market.  Starting January 4th, dogs will no longer be allowed at the market, so please leave your pets at home when visiting the market. Secondly, the market’s winter hours will change. As of January 4th, the Franklin Farmers Market will begin opening at 9am and close at noon. Those hours will remain in place until the start of the spring/summer season at the market.

As we close out this year, the farmers and the vendors at the Franklin Farmers Market want to express their appreciation to everyone who came to the market and made 2013 a record-breaking successful year.  We are very grateful for your support of local farms. Thank you!

FFM

Tom the Barn Wood Sign Guy’s unique creations

FFM

Antlers natural treats for your four-legged friends

FFM

Loading up on a great variety of freshly baked breads from Jones Mill Farms

Local Farmers brave Bitter Cold and Icy Roads for Market Customers

A chilly day at the farmers market

A chilly day at the farmers market

It was cold, wet and a little icy on Saturday. Enough to make everyone want to stay home and sip a steaming mug of coffee or hot chocolate. Yet several of the farmers and vendors at the Franklin Farmers Market defied the cold weather and showed up for you. And many of you stepped out into the cold to make it to the market too. Our hats are off to everyone for braving the chilly temps and coming out to the market.  It might have surprised you to hear that the ice cold weather kept Santa from visiting the market. Of course, chilly weather doesn’t bother him, but it can cause problems for other folks. Santa wanted to make sure that all the children around Franklin could come visit him, so he decided to reschedule his visit to the market.  So tell the kids to be on their best behavior this week and get their wish lists ready. Santa will be at the market this Saturday, December 14th!

FFM

Hot Cocoa was perfect for this cold day

FFM

Fresh made hot doughnuts from Elle’s

FFM

Families braved the cold

FFM

Bundled up warm

FFM

Now headed for home

Whether its summer or winter, picking up good fresh food from local farms is what everyone does at the market.

FFM

Fresh veggies loved the cold air

FFM

Rocky Glade Farm helping customers

FFM

River Cottage Farm had meat and eggs

FFM

Delvin Farms Certified Organice Produce

FFM

Jones Mill Farm fresh breads and hot sausage rolls

FFM

Flying S Farm Christmas cookies

FFM

V’s Pottery

FFM

Soy Candles

FFM

A new young vendor braved the cold

But there were quite a few of you doing something else this past Saturday.

FFM

Ann was prepared for the cold day

People were stopping at the Triple L Ranch booth to suggest names for a little calf born on the farm not too long ago. His mom abandoned him after birth and it was a little touch and go at first.

FFM

Steven of the Triple L Ranch needs help with a name for this new bottle fed calf, do you have a name?

Calves need to nurse very soon after they are born to get necessary antibodies and nutrients for their immune system. So this little calf was bottle-fed the right formula for newborn calves and now he’s doing just fine. But he’s still a bottle-baby and he’s become a four-legged member of the Lee family at Triple L Ranch and he needs a name. What do you think it should be? Tell us and if your name is picked as the right one, you’ll win a day on Triple L Ranch with the calf and a market goody basket. Just email lisa@franklinfarmersmarket.com and tell us what you think his name should be!

FFM

Thank you customers for donating so many winter coats and blankets!

And finally, the frosty weather on market day made the “Love Will Keep Us Warm” blanket and coat drives all the more relevant.  Financial hardships such as losing a job can make something as simple as buying an extra blanket or a new coat hard to do. Your donations of winter clothing, blankets and coats as you came to the market were beyond generous. Because of your compassion, many of those in need will stay warm through the winter.  We believe its proof that we have some of the kindest people in Tennessee visiting the market. Our heartfelt thanks to everyone for sharing the warmth this holiday season.  You can view more pictures of the day by clicking here.

FFM

The Franklin Farmers Market is always open every Saturday of the year so local families can buy their fresh farm produce and meats for the week no matter what the weather brings

Farm Fresh Produce being purchased in Record Numbers

FFM

Rocky Glade Tomatoes gone by 10am

And they’re off! When our farmers market opened last Saturday, it was just like the start of a race. Everyone was in a rush to find their favorite veggies and fruits. Farm Fresh Tomatoes were being grabbed in a hurry and blueberries were flying out of the market. Baskets of sweet juicy peaches were also being snatched up, along with beef steaks, ribs, ground beef, pork chops and other naturally raised farm meats for the outdoor grill. We take pride in having the best in fresh, locally grown food at the Franklin Farmers Market. And when produce such as tomatoes first start showing up, they are at the top of the list for everyone to take home.

FFM

Kelly’s Blueberries

FFM

Jones Mill Onions

FFM

Beaverdam Creek Veggies for Foodies

But relax. There’s plenty of good food at our farmers market. And the amount of farm produce and fruits you love increase every week through out the summer. For example, this past Saturday several of the farmers had the first of their tomato crop at the market. And there will be even more tomatoes to choose from this week. It’s the same thing with blueberries and other seasonal favorites. Our farmers grow a lot of food and you’ll always find a great selection at the Franklin Farmers Market.

FFM

Fresh Cut Flowers always popular

FFM

Jim Vaughn of Rocky Glade Farm

A lot of you stopped by the market information booth this past weekend to find out who had fresh corn or where the watermelons could be found. Remember, the food at the Franklin Farmers Market comes from local farmers, so it’s a little too early for both of those goodies to be ripe and ready in Middle Tennessee. But come by the info booth the next time you’re at the market and pick up a free copy of the Local Table magazine. It’s got a big seasonality chart so you can get a better idea of when your favorite veggies could be showing up at the market.

FFM

Delvin Farm Tomatoes

FFM

Kelly’s Blackberries

DSC_0323

All smiles after visiting the market

We also had a lot of people asking where to find the ATM. There is an ATM near the front of The Factory. But the best things is to plan ahead and bring small bills, like ones, fives and tens to the market. And there are several farmers who now accept credit and debit cards too. So come on out to the Franklin Farmers Market this upcoming Saturday and get all of the food you want for your 4th of July weekend!

FFM

Colvin Farms Lettuce

FFM

Colvin Farm Lettuce

FFM

Beautiful Lettuces from Colvin Farm

FFM

A young supporter of Tennessee’s Colvin Farm at the Franklin Farmers Market back lot